Cleome plant named ‘Robspiapp’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Cleome  plant named ‘Robspiapp’, characterized by its upright and compact plant habit; large inflorescences with numerous flowers; light pink to white-colored flowers; and tolerance to high temperatures.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Cleome hassleranacultivar Robspiapp.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Cleomeplant, botanically known as Cleome hasslerana, and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘Robspiapp’.

The new Cleome is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Grain Valley, Mo. The objective of the breeding programwas to develop new consistently compact Cleome cultivars.

The new cultivar originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in 2001 of two unknown selections of Cleome hasslerana, notpatented. The cultivar Robspiapp was discovered and selected by theInventor in July, 2002 as a single flowering plant within the progeny ofthe stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in GrainValley, Mo.

Asexual reproduction of the new Cleome by tip cuttings at Grain Valley,Mo. since 2002, has shown that the unique features of this new Cleomeare stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations ofasexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Robspiapp’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Robspiapp’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Upright and compact plant habit.    -   2. Large inflorescences with numerous flowers.    -   3. Light pink to white-colored flowers.    -   4. High temperature tolerant.

Plants of the new Cleome can be compared to plants of the parentalselections. Compared to plants of the parental selections, plants of thenew Cleome are more compact.

Plants of the new Cleome can be compared to plants of theseed-propagated Cleome Queen series, not patented. Compared to plants ofthe Queen Series, plants of the new Cleome are more compact and havelarger inflorescences.

Plants of the new Cleome can also be compared to plants of theseed-propagated Cleome Sparkler series, not patented. Compared to plantsof the Sparkler Series, plants of the new Cleome are more uniform inplant growth habit and flower coloration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Cleome, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Cleome.

The photograph at the top of the first sheet comprises a sideperspective view of typical plants of ‘Robspiapp’.

The photograph at the bottom of the first sheet is a close-up view oftypical plants of ‘Robspiapp’.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typicalinflorescence of ‘Robspiapp’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Cleome has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however,any variance in genotype.

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurementsdescribe plants grown in Grain Valley, Mo. in an outdoor nursery duringthe summer and under commercial production practices. During the day,temperatures averaged 32° C. and night temperatures averaged 24° C.Plants were about five months old when the photographs and descriptionwere taken. In the following description, color references are made toThe Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Cleome hasslerana cultivar Robspiapp.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unknown selection of Cleome            hasslerana, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Cleome            hasslerana, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Tip cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About one week at 27° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 12 days at 24°            C.        -   Root description.—Freely branching; fibrous; white to brown            in color.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form/growth habit.—Compact plant habit; upright plant            form. Strong and erect stems. Moderately vigorous growth            habit. Plants not freely branching.        -   Plant height.—About 70 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 20 cm.        -   Stem description.—Length: About 70 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.            Internode length: About 1.4 cm. Strength: Strong. Angle:            Upright. Texture: Pubescent; viscid. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Foliage description.—Leaves palmately compound with about            five leaflets per leaf. Leaflet length: About 4 cm. Leaflet            width: About 1 cm. Leaflet shape: Lanceolate to ovate.            Leaflet apex: Acute. Leaflet base: Attenuate. Leaflet            margin: Entire. Leaflet texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Slightly pubescent; viscid. Fragrance: Pungent. Leaflet            venation pattern: Pinnate. Leaflet color: Developing            leaflets, upper surface: 138A. Developing leaflets, lower            surface: 138B. Fully expanded leaflets, upper surface: 137C.            Fully expanded leaflets, lower surface: 137D. Venation,            upper and lower surfaces: Similar to lamina. Leaf petiole:            Length: About 2.6 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 144A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Numerous single flowers arranged on            large terminal racemes. Flowers persistent. Flowers face            upright and outwardly. Flowers not fragrant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower in the landscape            from May until frost in Grain Valley, Mo.; during this            period flowering recurrent.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers typically last about one            to two weeks on the plant.        -   Flower buds.—Height: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.            Shape: Ovoid. Color: 65A.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 10 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 20 cm.        -   Flowers.—Diameter: About 4 cm. Depth: About 2.5 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About four in a single whorl.            Length: About 2 cm. Width: About 1.25 cm. Shape: Obovate.            Apex: Obtuse to acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            Developing, upper surface: 68B. Developing, lower surface:            68B to 68C. Fully expanded, upper surface: 68B, color            becoming closer to 68D to 155B with development. Fully            expanded, lower surface: 68C; color becoming closer to 155B            with development.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five. Length: About 5 mm.            Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Sharply acute.            Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth. Color, upper surface: Close to 138A.            Color, lower surface: Close to 138B.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm.            Orientation: Initially erect, then horizontal. Strength:            Strong. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About            eight. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length: Less than 1 mm.            Filament length: About 4.4 cm. Filament color: 65A. Pollen            amount: Not observed. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.            Pistil length: About 4.7 cm. Stigma shape: Rounded. Style            length: About 4.5 cm. Style color: Close to 144A overlain            with 65A. Ovary color: Close to 144A.        -   Fruit.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Color:            Close to 144A.-   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Cleome have not been    observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to Cleomes.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Cleome have been observed have    good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and temperatures    ranging from 10 to 41° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Cleome plant named ‘Robspiapp’, asillustrated and described.